Fan assembly

ABSTRACT

A fan assembly includes a fan, a bracket, and a shield. The fan includes a first securing plate, which defines a plurality of first locking holes. The bracket includes a mounting plate, which defines a plurality of vent holes. A first group of locking members is mounted on the mounting plate. The mounting plate includes a pair of restricting pieces. The shield is restricted between the pair of restricting pieces to be mounted on one side of the mounting plate. The first group of locking members is mounted in the plurality of first locking holes to mount the fan on another side of the mounting plate, and the plurality of vent holes is configured to communicate the fan with the shield.

FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to fan assemblies, and in particular to a fan assembly used in an electronic device.

BACKGROUND

Fan assemblies are used for cooling electronic devices, such as a computer or a server. The fan assembly includes a fan and a casing for securing the fan. The casing is secured to the electronic device. The fan often generates a substantial amount of noise when the fan rotates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded, isometric view of an embodiment of a fan assembly.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of an embodiment of a locking member of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partially assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is another partially assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a partially assembled view of the fan assembly of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.”

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a fan assembly. The fan assembly includes a fan 20, a base 30, a cover 40, a bracket 50, and a shield 60.

The fan 20 includes a first securing plate 21 and a second securing plate 22 parallel to the first securing plate 21. Each of four corners of the first securing plate 21 defines a first locking hole 211. Each of four corners of the second securing plate 22 defines a second locking hole 221.

The base 30 includes a bottom plate 31, two side plates 32 perpendicularly connected to opposites edges of the bottom plate 31, and a connecting plate 33 connected between the two side plates 32. Each side plate 32 defines a first through hole 321 and a second securing hole 322. Each side plate 32 is connected to two bent pieces 323. A locking member 90 is mounted on each bent piece 323. The connecting plate 33 defines a plurality of fourth securing holes 331. The bottom plate 31 includes a blocking piece 311.

The cover 40 includes a top wall 41. Opposite edges of the top wall 41 extend downward and perpendicularly to form a pair of side walls 42. Each side wall 42 defines a second though hole 421 and a third through hole 423. The top wall 41 defines a fourth through hole 414.

The bracket 50 includes a supporting portion 51 and a mounting plate 52 perpendicularly connected to the supporting portion 51. Each of four corners of the mounting plate 52 defines a mounting hole 521. Each mounting hole 521 can receive a locking member 90 mounted therein. The supporting portion 51 defines two engaging holes 512. A port 53 is mounted on the supporting portion 51. The supporting portion 51 defines two first securing holes 511. Two restricting pieces 522 and two ear pieces 523 are perpendicularly connected to the mounting plate 52. The restricting piece 522 and the ear piece 523 extends in opposite direction. Each ear piece 523 defines a third securing hole 524.

The shield 60 includes a frame 61 which can be hollow. A plurality of parallel shielding sheets 62 is pivotally mounted in the frame 61. A pair of engaging blocks 63 is connected to a bottom of the shield 60.

FIG. 2 shows that the locking member 90 can be made of elastic material, such as rubber, to absorb shock. The locking member 90 includes a head portion 91 and a rod portion 92 connected to the head portion 91. The rod portion 92 includes a first restricting portion 921, a second restricting portion 922, and an inserting portion 923. The first restricting portion 921 includes a protrusion 925 adjacent to the second restricting portion 922. A diameter of the first restricting portion 921 is smaller than that of the head portion 31 and generally equal to that of the mounting hole 521. A diameter of the second restricting portion 922 is smaller than that of the inserting portion 923 and generally equal to that of the first locking hole 211 and the second locking hole 221.

FIGS. 1 to 5 show that in assembly, the rod portion 92 of the locking member 90 is inserted in the mounting hole 521. The boundary of the mounting hole 521 abuts the protrusion 925 to elastically deform the protrusion 925. After sliding over the boundary of the mounting hole 521, the protrusion 925 rebounds to mount the locking member 90 on the mounting plate 52. The inserting portion 923 of the locking member 90 is then inserted in the first locking hole 211 of the fan 20. Boundary of the first locking hole 211 abuts the inserting portion 923 to elastically deform the inserting portion 923. After the inserting portion 923 slides over the boundary of the first locking hole 211, the second restricting portion 922 is received in the first locking hole 211 and the inserting portion 923 rebounds to mount the fan 20 on one side of the mounting plate 52.

In succession, the engaging block 63 of the shield 60 is engaged in the engaging hole 512 of the bracket 50. The two restricting pieces 522 restrict the frame 61 therebetween to mount the shield 60 on another side of the mounting plate 52. The shield 60 is aligned to the vent holes 526 and the fan 20.

The bracket 50 is then placed on the bottom plate 31 of the base 30. The blocking piece 311 abuts the bracket 50. The locking member 90 mounted the base 30 is locked in the second locking hole 221. At this position, the first through hole 321 of the base is aligned to the first securing hole 511 of the bracket 50. A fastener 99 is mounted in the first through hole 321 and the first securing hole 511 to mount the bracket 50 on the base 30. Then, the cover 40 is covered on the base 30 to align the second through hole 421 with the second securing hole 322, align the third through hole 423 with the third securing hole 524, and align the fourth through hole 414 with the fourth securing hole 331. Fasteners 99 are mounted in the through holes and securing holes to mount the cover 40 on the base 30.

To use the fan assembly 10, the fan assembly 10 is mounted on an electronic device and the port 53 is connected to power to drive the fan 20 to rotate. In the fan assembly, both of the first securing plate 21 and the second securing plate 22 of the fan 20 are mounted by the locking members 90 which can absorb the shock of the fan 20 to decrease noise.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be made in detail, including in the matters of shape, size, and the arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure. The embodiments described herein are illustrative, and are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fan assembly, comprising: a fan comprising a first securing plate which defines a plurality of first locking holes; a bracket comprising a mounting plate which defines a plurality of vent holes, a first group of locking members mounted on the mounting plate, the mounting plate comprising a pair of restricting pieces; and a shield restricted between the pair of restricting pieces to be mounted on one side of the mounting plate; wherein the first group of locking members is mounted in the plurality of first locking holes to mount the fan on another side of the mounting plate, and the plurality of vent holes is configured to communicate the fan with the shield.
 2. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the shield comprises a hollow frame, an engaging block is connected to a bottom of the frame, the bracket defines an engaging hole, and the engaging block is engaged in the engaging hole.
 3. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein a plurality of parallel shielding sheets is pivotally mounted in the frame.
 4. The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein the base defines a first through hole, the bracket defines a first securing hole, and a fastener is mounted in the first through hole and the first securing hole.
 5. The fan assembly of claim 4, wherein the base comprises a blocking piece, the bracket is located in the base, and the blocking piece blocks the bracket.
 6. The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base, wherein the fan further comprises a second securing plate parallel to the first securing plate, the second securing plate defines a plurality of second locking holes, a second group of locking members is mounted on the base, and the second group of locking members is mounted in the plurality of second locking holes.
 7. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein each locking member is made of shock absorbent elastic material.
 8. The fan assembly of claim 7, wherein each locking member comprises a first restricting portion, a second restricting portion, and an inserting portion, the first restricting portion comprises a protrusion adjacent to the second restricting portion, and a diameter of the second restricting portion is smaller than that of the inserting portion.
 9. A fan assembly, comprising: a fan comprising a first securing plate and a second securing plate parallel to the first securing plate, the first securing plate defining a plurality of first locking holes, and the second securing plate defining a plurality of second locking holes; a bracket comprising a first group of locking members mounted thereon; a base comprising a second group of locking members mounted thereon, each of the first and second groups of locking members made of elastic material to absorb shock; wherein the first group of locking members are inserted in the plurality of first locking holes, and the second group of locking members are inserted in the plurality of second locking holes.
 10. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the bracket comprises a mounting plate which defines a plurality of vent holes, the fan is mounted on one side of the mounting plate, a shield is mounted on another side of the mounting plate, and the plurality of vent holes communicates the fan with the shield.
 11. The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein the mounting plate comprising a pair of restricting pieces, and the shield is restricted between the pair of restricting pieces.
 12. The fan assembly of claim 10, wherein the shield comprises a hollow frame, an engaging block is connected to a bottom of the frame, the bracket defines an engaging hole, and the engaging block is engaged in the engaging hole.
 13. The fan assembly of claim 12, wherein a plurality of parallel shielding sheets is pivotally mounted in the frame.
 14. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein the base comprises a blocking piece, the bracket is located on the base, and the blocking piece blocks the bracket.
 15. The fan assembly of claim 9, wherein each locking member comprises a first restricting portion, a second restricting portion, and an inserting portion, the first restricting portion comprises a protrusion adjacent to the second restricting portion, and a diameter of the second restricting portion is smaller than that of the inserting portion. 